Malaria

Flu-like initially. A fever is always present; other symptoms can include shivers, headache and muscle aches, sometimes with diarrhoea and nausea. If there is no improvement in symptoms within 24 hours, see a doctor urgently for a blood test. It’s important to provide details of your travel history so your doctor can assess your risk for malaria.

IMPORTANT: Don’t ignore the symptoms of malaria; see a doctor as soon as possible. A fever after being in a malaria risk area is malaria until proven otherwise, regardless of other symptoms. 

Travellers should:

• Apply a personal insect repellent containing an effective active ingredient, such as DEET 30–40%, oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or PMD, or picaridin 20%.
• Go inside or cover up with long-sleeved tops, long pants, and shoes and socks when mosquitoes become active.
• Sleep in screened/air-conditioned accommodation or under a permethrin-treated bed net. Sleeping bag liners impregnated in permethrin are useful when staying in basic accommodation where there may also be a risk of bed bugs.

Several medications are used to kill the malaria parasite before illness develops. Follow the directions as prescribed by your travel doctor.

Diagnose and treat symptoms promptly.

Malaria can be rapidly fatal. If you experience any symptoms indicating malaria seven or more days after arriving in a malaria-infected area, or for up to 12 months after leaving the area, assume you have malaria and see a doctor. Malaria symptoms, other than a fever, can be non-specific and resemble other illnesses. It is important to see a doctor and let them know you have been in a malarious area even if you took antimalarial drugs correctly during and after travelling to an affected area. 

Travellers who experience symptoms in remote, high-risk malaria areas with no immediate access to medical care may use malaria self-treatment medication if it has been provided. This does not substitute for medical care but may give you more time to seek medical care. If you have been provided with an emergency malaria testing kit, you may use this to help diagnose malaria prior to treatment. A negative test does not exclude malaria.